Foraging habits and behaviour of moose calves in virgin forests

• Autorzy: Kossak S.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Foraging habits of two hand-reared moose Alces alces (Linnaeus, 1758) calves were observed from 22 June to 20 July, 1990. The animals foraged freely while wandering in the Białowieża National Park, Poland. The intensity of foraging was measured by counting the contacts (i.e. bites followed by swallowing of a plant part). Altogether, 4,408 contacts with plants of 42 species were recorded. During the month of observations the number of contacts and the number of species of plants eaten by moose did not increase significantly. There was a positive correlation between the number of contacts and the number of species of plants eaten by moose during a day. Some random choice of forage by the calves, statistically significant (but decreasing with time) quantitative differences in the food preferences between the two moose, behavioural data about strong bonds between moose calves and their mother, and comparison with the development of foraging habits in roe deer fawns formed a basis for the hypothesis that the mimicring of the mother's behaviour is an important mechanism in the development of foraging habits in moose calves.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

behaviour; Alces alces; Poland; virgin forest; moose calve; forest; Bialowieza National Park

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Acta Theriologica
• Rocznik: 1992
• Tom: 37
• Numer: 1-2
• Opis fizyczny: p.51-61,fig.,ref.

Twórcy

autor

Kossak S.

• Forest Research Institute, 17-230 Bialowieza, Poland

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